Double pane window structure



July 19, 1960 R. .1. DoMEN DOUBLE PANE WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 2.195e INVENTOR l?. JMS OMf'lV BY guna, M,

Thisinvention relates to windows and especially window s havingapluralityof panes.

f 'Il he window has a wide varietyof uses such as in the walls; doors orceilings of stationary or mobile structures. typical use is indwellingsf or in other buildings used forihosing people f i r 'Generallythe purpose of a plural pane window is to '2,945,269 Patented July 19,1960 l ce extending portion 12 within which a preferably transparentwindow pane 13 ts. A ange =14 projects inwardly of axial portion 12 forengaging peripheral portions of the outer face of pane 13. A glazingcompound 15 is preferably provided between ilange 14 and pane 13.

A second frame 18 supports a second pane 19, also preferablytransparent, Within axial portion 12 of frame provide insulation.Heretofore plural pane windows have been provided by mounting ordinarystorm windows adjacentco'nventional single pane windows. Storm winlowsmust'usually be put up and taken down seasonally, usually necessitatesconsiderable strenuous and time-consuming elorh j j -f .Heretoforevarious types of double'pane window structureshavebeen' provided toeliminate .the necessity for the conventional storm. window. One generaltype requires ajhermetic'seal between the panes for retaining anatiosphere'fof dried gassuch asnitrogen to prevent condensation'ontheppane interiors.` This type window is relatively expensive.. Inanother general type the frame "f provided" with holes `so that thespace between the panesjcan breathe. This structure is unsatisfactorybecause it does not prevent condensation on the pane inter'i` sin allvsituations and at the same time insects and dirtfiget in' between`thepanes so that the window must frequently be dismantled for .cleaningpurposes.

Anobject of this' invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive doublepane-window structure which is sealed tightly enough to eliminate thenecessity for frequent int`e'rnal cleaning and which is free frominternal condensation. i Another object of the invention is to provide a'structure which can be quickly and simply dismanreplacement'be-necessary. 'i v v I*"Fhe'invention. generally contemplates mountingtwo panes on a frame with an ordinarily air-tight seal between thepanesgand providing a desiccant in the space between "the'rrames toabsorb moisture for "preventing condensationllv .The panes are/securedto the frame by frictionally. resiliently Ifixed glazing clips. Theglazing cli ,e ed framehave apposed shoulders extending generaly:perpendicular to the planes of the panes and having exposed edges sothat the clips can be detached by simply inserting al tool between theshoulders and spreading them apart. fwOneformnof theiinvention is shownin the accompanying drawings.

'Fi'gf l is an elevational view of a Window embodying thismirivention'.W f Y Y I FrgZ l'an"enlarged sectional perspective view illustratingstructure ofthe window.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. '2 except that a glazing clip -isshown in adiierent position.

supporting structure not shown. Frame l1 has an axially 11 and in spacedrelation from pane V13. Frame 18 preferably comprises a plurality ofglazing strips each having a U-shaped channel 20 receiving an edgeportion of pane 19. A glazing compound 21 is preferably providedbeltween pane 19 and channel 20. Pane 19 is somewhat smaller than pane13 so that when glazing `strips 20 are tted around it, the glazingstrips will it within axial por- Ition =12 of frame I1. Each glazingstrip 18 has a portion 23 extending laterally of U-shaped channel 20toward pane 13. Extension 23 is provided with a preferably tubularsealing element. 24 which engages against the interior face of pane `13.Seal 24 is yformed of a resiliently distortable material such as -anatural or synthetic rubber or a plastic. Frame 11 has a recess 27adjacent outer leg 28 of channel 20 and extending generally transverselyof axial portion 12. Recess 27 has an inner wall 29 and an outer wall 30which may be of re-entrant form -as shown at 31. Frame 11 has a shoulder32 adjacent outer recess wall 30 extending transversely of the generalplane of the window and having an exposed outer edge 33.

Inner frame 18 and panes 13 and 119 are secured on outer frame 11 by aplurality of elongate glazing clips 35. Each clip has a preferablycammed linger 36 ad# jacent its upper edge portion 37 (as Figs. 2-4 areviewed) and has a downwardly projecting edge portion 38. Clip 35 has anintermediate shouldered portion 39 with an outer edge 40. In Vassembledrelation of the parts (Fig. 2), upper edge 37 of the glazing clipengages outer leg 28 of U-shaped channel 20, and lower edge portion 38of clipA 35 engages against inner wall 29 of recess 27. Shoulder 39 onthe clip is engaged against shoulder 32 on frame 11, and an intermediateportion 42 of the clip adjacent shoulder 39 is engaged against outerwall 30 of the recess. Edges 33 and 40 of shoulders 32 and 39respectively are exposed at one face ofthe window. Edge portions 37 and38 of clip 35 are stressed outwardly or to the left as Fig. 2 is viewedso that the clip is frictionally engaged with inner frame 18 and outerframe 11.

Clip 35 forces frame or strip elements 18 inwardly or to the right asFig. 2 is viewed so that tube 24 is sealingly engaged against the innerface of pane `13 as shown. The seal provided by tube 24 is adequate toprevent any appreciable movement of air into and out'of the dead space'formed bythe panes and frame members. A desiccant is provided in thedead air space to absorb moisturefrom the air and prevent condensationon the inner surfaces of the panes upon external changes of temperature.The desiccant preferably comprises a cartridge 44 of a form-retainingmaterial which has substantially the same size in moist and dryconditions. An example of a suitable' material is -an amorphous, poroussilica gel of the type which changes color to indicate moisture content.

In use it may be assumed that window 10 has been assembled in a windowopening. The glazing compound at `'15 and 21 provides generallypermanent air-tight joints between pane 13 and frame 11 and betweenpanel19 and inner frame 18. Tube 24 provides a detachable seal against pane13. While these seals provide a generally air-tight space between thepanes, they do not provide a hermetic seal -in the ordinary sense of theword. A certain amount of air leakage may occur around the seals becauseof thermal expansion and contraction of air in the dead space,barometric pressure changes, and the like.

'Desiccant cartridge 44 is adequate to keep the vair in the dead spacedry over a relatively long period of time to prevent moisturecondensation on the interior surfaces of the panes. However,.in the.course of time the .desicf cant may .become saturated ,due to slightleakage of moist air into the dead space. Also leakage may carry a smallamount of dirt into the dead air space so that ythe interiors of thepanes in the course of time may become dirty. Consequently it may bedesirable to re- 'i move pane 19 .for cleaning purposes or for drying orreplacing cartridge 44. 'To remove pane 19 a tool such as `a screwdriver 'is inserted in the juncture between edges '33 and 40. .ofshoulders 32 .and 39. The shoulders are forced apart, shifting clip 35upwardly as Figs. 2-4 are viewed relatively to frame 11 `to disengageupper edge 37 of the clip from outer leg 28 of inner frame memberA 18.The clip is then lifted upwardly to withdraw its lower edge 38 fromrecess 30 thereby exposing inner frame 18. Inner frame 18 and pane 19are withdrawn from outer frame 11 -to facilitate cleaning the interiorsurfaces of the panes Ior replacement or Ydrying of ydesiccant.cartridge 44.

To rreassemble the window, inner frame 18 with its pane 19 and desiccantcartridge 44 are slidably inserted within yframe 11.. Lower edge 38 ofclip 35 is inserted inrecess E2.9, and upper edge 37 Iof the clip ispositioned against outer element 28 of frame 18 so that the parts aregenerally in the position shown in Fig. 3. Clip 18 is then forceddownwardly as Figs. 2-4 are viewed. Wedge element 36 forces upper edge37 of the clip outwardly So that intermediate portion -42 of the clipbears against outer wall 30 of the recess and so that lower edge 38 ofthe clip is levered against inner wall 29 of the recess.

This position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 4. The clip is understressed condition with its edges frictionally engaging inwardly againstframe members 1l-and 18 and with its central portion frictionallyengaging outwardly against frame member 11. Frame 18 is forced inwardlyso that tube 24 again seals against pane 13. Clip 35 is then forceddownwardly to engage shoulder 39 against shoulder 32 on outer framemember 11 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

It is important to note that the juncture between shoulders 39 and 32 isin exposed position Iand that a tool may be inserted between theshoulders in a direction transverse to the general planes of panes 13and 19. This structure facilitates simple, rapid breakingof the jointfor removal of the outer pane 19. In the event that corrosion occurs atthe joint such as through the action of water, cleaning materials, andthe like, the corroded joint can be quickly and easily broken Aapart byrunning a relatively thin blade such as a knife blade along the joint.Clip 35 may then be removed in the manner described.

The window can be quickly and conveniently dismantled and reassembled byan unskilled person and without special tools.

-I cl-aim:

l. Window structure comprising, a window pane, a window frame, meansproviding a glazing element removably mounting said pane on said frame,a clip for detachably securing said glazing element in pane mountingrelation on said frame, said glazing element having a face portion, saidframe having -a shoulder which is spaced from said face portion andwhich extends generally in a plane transverse to 'the plane ofthe windowpane, said clip having a shoulder extending generally in the samedirection as the frame shoulder, said shoulders being in interfacialengagement, s'aid clip having a surface engaging a surface of said frameadjacent the interfacing shoulders, said clip having a face portionengaging said face portion of lsaid 'glazing element, "said clip beingstressed between its said surface and face portion so that said surfacesand face portions frictionally resist movement of said clip relative tosaid glazing element and frame, said surface of said clip and said faceportion of said glazing element lying generally parallel planes so thatsaid interengaged surfaces and said interengaged face portions aregenerally reotilinearly -slidably v:relative to each other for detachingsaid clip from said frame and glazing element,` .said 'interfacing.shoulders vdefini-ng 'la crack exposedat .an .outer` face of saidwindow structure into which a tool "can be inserted to produce generallyrectilinear relativemovements of -s'aid surfaces and face portions.

2. 'Ihe combination dened in claim 1 wherein said surface on said cliphas generally flat planar form, the plane ofwhichextends. generallyparallel to the. plane ofsaidwindowpane. ,g K if.

3. Window structure comprising, a Ywindow pane, a window frame, meansproviding a glazing element remov-v ably mounting Ksaid pane onvsaidframe,a clip for detachably securing said glazingl element in pane`mounting relation onsaid frame, said glazing element having a faceportion, saidframe having -a shoulder which is spaced from said faceportion and which extends generally in a plane transverse to `the planeof the `window pane, said clipv having a shoulder extendinggenerallyinthe same direction as the frame shoulder, said shoulders being ininterfacial engagement, said clip having a surface engag-v ing a surfaceof said frame. adjacent the interfacing shoulders, said clip having afaceportion yengaging said face portion of said glazing. element, saidclip being stressed between its said surface and face portion so thatsaid surfaces and face portions frictionally resist move# ment ofsaidclip relative to said glazing element and frame, said surface. of saidclip. and saidv face portion of. said glazing element lying in generallyparallel planes so that said interengaged surfaces and said interengagedface portions are generally rectilinearly slidable relative to eachother for detachingu said clip from Ysaid frame and glazing element,s'aid interfacing shoulders defining a crack exposed at an outer face ofsaid window structure into which a tool canbe inserted to producegenerally rectilinear relative movements of said surfaces and faceportions, said face portion of said clip including a portion disposed atan angle to said faceportion of said glazing.

' element and another portion which engages said portion of said glazingelement in 'assembled` relation of the parts, said angled portionproviding a wedge engaging said face portion of said glazing element andurging said clip toward its said stressed condition upon assembly oftheparts.

References Cited inthe tile of patent i.

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

579,4'60 AWilbur Marl 23,1897 919,887 Kohler. r a.. Apr. 27, 1909985,800 Hartbauer '.Y v Mar. 7, 1911 2,095,892 Place Oct. 1219372,202,694 Haux p May 28, 1940 2,264,187 `Owen Nov. 25, `1941 2,294,295Hankins et al. Aug.;'25,1942 2,305,957 Edwards Dec. 22,- 19.42 2,525,717Ottenheimer Oct., 10, 1950 2,844,197 Kelly et al. July 2951958 FOREIGNVPATENTS Y A Y France t..`. .`................f.. Apr. 28,1947

